Jeff Ascough under NDA for new Rangefinder

[squirrel$$$bandit]

If it's mirrorless, it could possibly be shallow enough to accept an M lens adapter.

 

[Kevin]

After thinking it over again and again, I place my bet that it's going to be the successor to R-D1 !

 

[cidereye]

I'd love to think it's finally a digital Contax G3 but it won't be.

My money is on Nikon at this stage. 😉

 

[taxi38]

Its a Sony.😎

 

[crist]

full frame foveon sensor?? ouchhhh!! Will be amazing!!

 

[mark-b]

I don't care if it's made by Cosina or Mr. Coffee; as long as it's M-mount. I can't afford an M9.

 

[GBR66]

Got to be the Epson.

 

[emraphoto]

It's going to be a Canon

 

[rover]

I have it from a good source that it is made by Wamo and will be offered only on TV infomercials.

 

[reala_fan]

Definitely the return of Miranda (finally)!!

 

[Doug]

If we're going to speculate.... which let's face it, is fun:

1: Sony provided the R-D1 sensor.
2: Sony own the Konica name.
3: According to Stephen Gandy, "Konica had working Hexar RF Digital prototypes [ready before] the 2004 PMA show.
4: Sony desperately need credibility in the pro camera world.

I place my 50 cent bet on the fact it is an automated RF like the G2, designed by the Hexar design house, with a Sony sensor.

I like this logic, and if it had the Sony A900 innards with an electronically enhanced RF, how great would that be. Single LED frameline for each lens that changes to reflect both parallax and field size? Variable magnification viewfinder but leaving a bit around the outsides of all framelines? Compatible with M lenses in MF mode with a slim adapter and manual input of lens ID?

In regard to the point about the "normal" 35 f/1.2 at odds with a "full frame" sensor... Seems to me that really is a "classic" full frame choice. Many of us consider 35mm normal for 24x36, and a 50mm feels like a short tele.

 

[Kevin]

I like this logic, and if it had the Sony A900 innards with an electronically enhanced RF, how great would that be. Single LED frameline for each lens that changes to reflect both parallax and field size? Variable magnification viewfinder but leaving a bit around the outsides of all framelines? Compatible with M lenses in MF mode with a slim adapter and manual input of lens ID?

This sounds all very logical from a technical point of view ... but then why give one to a UK wedding photographer to test drive? He's been shooting Canon DSLRs for years now.

Wouldn't it be more logical (marketing-wise) for Fuji, who has/had a large following among wedding photographers, to finally introduce its "successor" to the S5Pro and let a famous wedding photographer slowly leak details about it?

 

[baz]

A few thoughts...

A few thoughts...

First off, let me remind the doubters of the pre-M9 chatter on RFF. Yeah...

I have no specific knowledge, nor am I under a NDA. That said, I think I have a quite accurate combination of predictions...

1. Unless you're Leica (with the S2) or a consortium of very large companies (the Micro 4/3'rds folks), very few other camera companies would have the stones to release a _totally_ new AF lens mount at this point. Not in any market segment other than the ultra high end.

2. No modern (presumably digital) rangefinder can be born into the same world as the Leica M9 and not at least have compatibility with legacy Leica M-mount lenses. Not gonna happen! Sorry. No one contemplating releasing a rangefinder (a VERY specialist, niche item) in 2010 can afford to ignore a ubiquitous, old lens mount for which the patent has long since expired. Whatever company we're dealing with here _knows_ how insanely everyone will be whipped into a frenzy if there is a cheaper (perhaps even better?!) digital option to the Leica M9 which can use the exact same manual-focus lenses, even if it doesn't say Leica on the front. They ain't stupid. 😉

3. It will be significantly cheaper than the M9 (about $3,500-$4,500). The sensor will be way better. DXOMark will prove this, empirically and verifiably.

4. It _will_ be M-mount, support legacy M-mount lenses and *either* launch with several new autofocus, yet M-mount lenses *or* _perhaps_ (I'd give it 3 to 1 odds...) focus at the _focal plane_. Just think about how many fine adjustments are now easily made at the focal plane, what with sensor-based image stabilization and dust removal shaking the AA filter... We have the technology, folks!

5. On an M-mount camera, what happens when you turn the lens helicoid to focus? It pushes on the little metal, spring-loaded "wheel" inside the camera's lens mount to couple the lens to the camera's rangefinder mechanism. Doesn't this seem like something which could, quite trivially, be outfitted with an electronic sensor which would then react to you manually focusing the lens and override the AF, switching you then to a traditional RF-style contact patch in the viewfinder? I'd wager this is exactly what Jeff means about a revolutionary viewfinder. Another totally logical step in a finder with such capabilities is fully electronic, virtually unlimited framelines (custom framelines? firmware-upgradeable framelines?). Think about it.... A 35mm *and* a 40mm! No need for external finders on a digital RF (some exceptions, I'm sure) or multiple VC Bessa's anymore...sorry TomA!

We shall see. Here's hoping *soon*! I'll have some Nikon gear to offload!

---

All that said, I'll still be shooting my Leica M4-2 and CLE's (and scanning on my Imacon) until long after the Neopan runs out... 😀

Cheers,

Basil
in Atlanta

 

[pevelg]

Very interesting first post Basil!!! 🙂

 

[totifoto]

I just hope it will be a true rangefinder, not some EP´s or GF´s lookalike with electro viewfinders.

 

[Austerby]

Has no one speculated that it could be a new Leica?

 

[back alley]

Definitely the return of Miranda (finally)!!

i once owned a miranda sensorex ee, wonderful old brick.

 

[back alley]

what i find so interesting, is that rff is generally so very pro film yet all this commotion is over a possible DIGITAL rangefinder.

i knew that you all secretly covet my rd1s...

 

[crist]

NOOOOOOO electro viewfinders please

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

what i find so interesting, is that rff is generally so very pro film yet all this commotion is over a possible DIGITAL rangefinder.

i knew that you all secretly covet my rd1s...

I think a lot of people have come around, now that there are more digital cameras we actually like to use.